Former IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham 21-2 (11), of Philadelphia is going through what Kelly Pavlik went through prior to his fight with Jermain Taylor by trying to get a title bout. Pavlik beat the top contender Edison Miranda and still couldn’t get into the IBF or WBA ratings.

Cunningham is not in the WBC ratings. He won the IBF title in a rematch over Krzysztof Wlodarczyk of Poland to gain the IBF title. This is the same Wlodarczyk who is the #1 contender in the WBC. In a title defense Cunningham stopped now European champion Marco Huck of Germany who is #6 in the WBC. Cunningham cannot even get into their top 40. He is negotiating to fight former WBC champion Wayne Braithwaite of Guyana who is #7 in the WBC.

The same goes for the WBO ratings. Former WBO champ and now #3 Enzo Maccarinelli refuses to fight Cunningham. #10 is Huck who Cunningham stopped and yet, no place in the ratings for Cunningham in their top 15. Huck is also #6 in the WBA ratings while Cunningham is at #9. Cunningham has a win over their current champion Guillermo Jones back in 2005 which was the last time Jones was beaten. Both Jones and Cunningham are promoted by Don King so why doesn’t he make a rematch happen?

In the IBF where Cunningham lost his title by controversial split decision in December to Tomasz Adamek of Poland Cunningham is #3. Adamek showed he wanted nothing to do with a Cunningham rematch by offering #2 B.J. Flores the USBA champ a fight. When Flores could not come to terms with the Adamek people they reached back in the ratings to #7 Jonathon Banks who is the IBO champion and out of the Kronk gym a fight. Banks accepted and will meet Adamek February 27th back in Newark, New Jersey where Adamek won the title.

I was able to talk with Cunningham who was working out at Shulers Gym in Philly about his future plans. “We are still in negotiations with Braithwaite but haven’t been able to get any TV,” said Cunningham. “The winner would meet the Adamek-Banks winner,” he added. The fight between Cunningham and Adamek over VERSUS was a great fight that not only merits a rematch but should make both fighters very viewable for television. “I think I should be rated at least #5 in all the organizations,” said Cunningham. “I will fight any fighter in the division,” he added.

Cunningham informed me that he and his lovely wife Livy will be going to Orlando this weekend. So where is he taking her on Valentines Day? Would you believe to the fights? That’s what you call a true champion!